Ezekiel Machogu, the cabinet secretary for education, has refuted claims that the government intends to raise tuition at universities and privatize some institutions.
Moses Kuria, the Trade Cabinet Secretary (CS), caused a stir on January 24 when he said that the government intended to privatize some colleges to aid in their financial recovery.
Up to Sh56 billion in unpaid tuition and fees are owed by Kenya’s public institutions.
During a news conference at his office in Nairobi’s Two Rivers Mall, Kuria stated, “We are already in talks with some investors [to partially buy some of the colleges].
Kenyans and MPs were outraged by the minister’s comments and said that the country’s intention to privatize some public universities would lower the standard of higher education there.
And on Thursday, March 2, the CS in charge of the Ministry of Education, Ezekiel Machogu, referred to as “baseless” the claims made by a number of government officials that the State will give select colleges priority.
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Those making the claims were referred to by Machogu as “busy bodies”.
He gave a speech at Kabianga University in Kericho County as part of the institution’s 10th anniversary celebrations of receiving a charter.
“I am aware of the difficulties today’s institutions are dealing with. My administration is eager to find solutions to these problems because we recognize the importance of the universities sub-sector.
“Privatization of our public universities is not in the works. By creating an enabling, legal, and policy climate and by providing funds through capitation and student loans, my administration is committed to assisting public universities, said Machogu.
According to the minister, several stakeholders have suggested raising university tuition to the presidential task force on education.
“A decision to increase the fees has not been made. Before making a wise choice, we would wait for the working party’s recommendations, he said.
There are those who arrive… I believe that there are busybodies out there who claim that the government will privatize public universities. There is nothing comparable. There has never been a period when the government has considered privatizing public universities, and there never will be.
“We are conscious of the crucial part that education plays in the socioeconomic change of the nation. Governments are never allowed to privatize public universities, continued Machogu.
The minister claimed that vice chancellors who convened in Mombasa in the middle of February advocated raising tuition, but neither the Cabinet nor the Parliament had yet to approve the idea.
